The Chalkboard

BOE/Twp. Committee working together

The Plumsted Township Board of Education and Township Committee have members dedicated to insuring the best possible services to residents; and to provide value while keeping a watchful eye on local taxes.

Through good planning, cooperation on projects and open communication, both bodies not only complete the tasks that each organization needs to do, but also looks for ways to coordinate our activities. In addition to the many ways we have to communicate with each other, the State of New Jersey is encouraging regional or local interagency cooperation to provide greater value for tax dollars spent.

We are fortunate to have found ways to work together.

In addition to the open. informal meetings and calls between Board of Education and Township Committee members, the Township Administration and Superintendent of Schools also are in touch on a regular basis.

Bonnie Quesnel, from the Township Committee, and Karen Amburgey from the Board of Education, have been selected as liaisons between ,our two groups. Additionally, two or three time a year representatives from each organization meet to see if there are issues to discuss or projects that can be coordinated.

We are fortunate to have such openness and willingness to work together. We are currently looking at ways to share services we can do together. "Interlocal" and joint purchase agreements have helped us coordinate our efforts.

The recently approved "Memorandum of Agreement" between our local school district, local police department, County Superintendent and County Prosecutor spells out how our schools and' township police will work together. The availability of a Juvenile Office has- helped tremendously in- our schools.

The Board of Education has made its facilities open to township groups; the Environmental Commission, Juvenile Conference Committee, Plumsted Township All Boards ,Council; Plumsted Township Business and Merchants Association, Council for the Arts, and other such groups, at no charge. Recreation groups also have meetings or events, including Saturday use of facilities, at no cost.

The Township Committee has been supportive of recently approved legislation to assess Impact Fees on building developers to reduce' the increased taxes to current residents due to new homes increasing the costs to local schools. Additional crossing guards, for the safety of our children going lo and from school, have been provided at both New Egypt Middle School and New Egypt Elementary School.

The area of greatest co- operation has occurred on Evergreen Road. The township and Board of Education provided land for the Plumsted branch of the Ocean County Library. Wastewater hookups have been made to the school district sewer plant from the library.

The Township, after purchasing a large parcel next door to the middle school, sold much of it to the Board of Education for $1.00. The Board of Education has agreed to spend over $1.8 million to create fields behind the current middle school and on the land provided by the township. The fields of the township donated land will be maintained forever by the school district. The Township Recreation Committee will be able to use those fields whenever the schools are not using them.

This is a win for the Board of Education since we did not have to make the initial purchase. It is a win for the Township Committee since millions of dollars have been, and will be, spent creating and maintaining the Fields. And it is a big win for local residents who have watched two local governmental organizations co- operate with increased available resources and coordinated the use of local tax dollars.

Together, the Township Committee (Mayor Ron Dancer, Deputy Mayor Joe Przywara and members Bonnie Quesnel, Ken Francis and Mike Roberts) and Board of Education (President Herb Marinari, Vice President Keith Buckalew, and members Robert Schadewald, Karen Amburgey, and Albert Petroni) work together for the betterment of our entire community.